If ever, EVER, an album needed to be described as "brütal" this is it. Music should not be allowed to be this good.

You know, I don't have the linguistic prowess to describe just how good this is. You may have heard Finntroll before (Trollhammeren did the rounds a few years back) but this album shows such an astounding level of musical maturity that you just wouldn't expect from a genre broadly described as folk metal. They've gone so far beyond a mere gimmick that it's now pure artistry. The implementation of harpiscords, brass, kazoos, banjos and deep gutteral vocals works so well and so seamlessly that you can only listen in awe.

Musically, they've cut down to basic balls-to-the wall riffage that works so well. Simplistic like AC/DC, with grooves like Metallica and at times hints of Slayer. Throw in a bit of 'Madness' and that sums up this album!

Vocally, Vreth is an instrument in himself carrying a great variety of melody with each syllable, despite being in Swedish (it sounds more 'trollish') being discernible and sing-along-able to. I'll let the music speak for itself and provide you these treats. Skogsdotter is nothing short of magnificent. Magnificent. If you only listen to one of those three, let it be Skogsdotter.

Enjoy. And BUY THIS ALBUM. These guys deserve the sales. The detail in the album is great, all artwork completed by the guitarist Skrymer. It's beautiful. Anyway, enough of me.....